Trellis or lattice structure designed to be mounted by self-engagement or by sliding

ABSTRACT

A trellis or lattice structure which is designed to constitute fencing for gardens or is intended for decorative purposes. The trellis or lattice is comprised of elongated thermoplastic elements which are &#39;&#39;&#39;&#39;U-shaped&#39;&#39;&#39;&#39; in cross section and which have on each side a longitudinally extending semispherical relief or boss. The elements are also provided with transversely extending slots of a configuration corresponding to the external configuration of the elements, whereby the elements can be removably assembled by vertical or horizontal sliding engagement so as to constitute a checkerwork structure.

United States Patent Fornells [54] TRELLIS OR LATTICE STRUCTURE DESIGNED TO BE MOUNTED BY SELF- ENGAGEMENT OR BY SLIDING [72] Inventor: Gilbert Fornells, 38 rue Stendhal,

Paris, France 221 Filed: April 24, 1970 21 Appl.No.: 31,661

[52] US. Cl ..47/45, 287/ 189.36 A, 52/668, 46/28, 46/29 [51] Int. Cl. ..AOlg 17/06, F16b 1/00 [58] Field of Search ..47/44-46, 47; 46/29; 287/ 1 89.36 A; 52/667-668 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Cassel et al ..287/189 36AUX York ..52/668 X 1451 Sept. 12, 1972 3,089,716 5/1963 Berkowitz ..46/29 X 2,917,868 12/1959 Presnick ..47/47 2,990,647 7/1961 Himebaugh ..47/47 Primary Examiner-Robert E. Bagwill Attorney-John J. Byme [57] ABSTRACT A trellis or lattice structure which is designed to constitute fencing for gardens or is intended for decorative purposes. The trellis or lattice is comprised of elongated thermoplastic elements which are U- shaped in cross section and which have on each side a longitudinally extending semispherical relief or boss, The elements are also provided with transversely extending slots of a configuration corresponding to the external configuration of the elements, whereby the elements can be removably assembled by vertical or horizontal sliding engagement so as to constitute a checkerwork structure.

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TRELLIS OR LATTICE STRUCTURE DESIGNED TO BE MOUNTED BY SELF-ENGAGEMENT OR BY SLIDING The present invention relates, generally speaking, to trellis or lattice structures designed to constitute fencing elements for delimiting gardens or plots of land, for palisades or, alternatively, for the decoration of walls, ceilings, arches or pergolas, or for concealing a bare wall.

It is-known to manufacture trellis work, generally from painted timber or galvanized or plasticized iron and secured either on a wall or in equidistant posts made fast in the ground.

These materials require permanent and frequently costly maintenance, the timber utilized for the manufacture of such fencing elements sometimes deteriorating at the securing points and the galvanized of plasticized iron not adequately resisting the effects of oxidation.

It is one of the objects of the invention to remedy the disadvantages exhibited by these types of fencing elements and to permit the production of a trellis or lattice structure composed of multiple elements made from a thermoplastics material and arranged in chequerwork fashion, the assembly and/or disassembly thereof being capable of being readily and rapidly effected, the structure at the same time exhibiting an adequate degree of rigidity and flexibility to ensure that it shall be extremely robust.

The invention also permits the provision of a trellis or lattice structure the constituent elements of which are associated with connecting elements permitting the displacement of the said constituent elements, with a view to replacing one or more of the latter.

It also permits the provision of a trellis or lattice structure the constituent elements of which are able to undergo modifications as to length due to the expansion or contraction of the material employed, without I detriment to the appearance of the assembly, notably in the case of a trellis or lattice structure serving for the decoration of a wall or of a panel.

It also permits the provision of a trellis or lattice structure the elements for the connection of the constituent elements of which are designed in such manner as to permit a modification in the appearance of the structure as a whole.

It also permits the provision of a trellis or lattice structure the profile of the constituent elements of which permits the inverting thereof at the instant of assembly and the production, with the aid of cranked angle sleeves or equivalent elements, of various decorative models.

The trellis or lattice according to the present invention is characterized in that the elements of which it consists are constituted by section elements made from a thermoplastics material the cross-section of which is U-shaped and which have, on each of their lateral arms and in the longitudinal direction, a semispherical relief or boss permitting the releasable assembly thereof, by self-engagement or by vertical or horizontal sliding, with identical section elements in the lateral arms or limbs of which there are formed equidistant recesses having the same shape as that of the section elements with which they are to be releasably associated, so as to constitute a chequerwork structure which may or may not be delimited by a frame at least two of the elements of which are formed with recesses having the same shape as that of the sections.

According to a special feature of the invention, the sections assembled by self-engagement with the identical sections formed with recesses in their lateral arms are adapted to be displaced by sliding in the said recesses.

According to a further feature of the invention, the said sections are provided on their external face with bosses the purpose of which it is to limit their sliding in the recesses.

According to yet a further feature of the invention, the frame of the trellis or lattice structure is constituted by elements having a U-profile in cross-section, at least two of the said elements having, in their inner arms or limbs, equidistant recesses of the same shape as the sections constituting the trellis or lattice.

, According to an advantageous mode of embodiment, the sections constituting the trellis or lattice exhibit, in cross-section, a recessed profile of rectangular or square section, the purpose of which it is to impart increased rigidity thereto.

According to yet a further advantageous mode of embodiment, the sections constituting the trellis or lattice and exhibiting, in cross-section, a recessed profile of rectangular or square section, are provided with two semi-spherical reliefs arranged parallel, with a view to assembling them with two juxtaposed sections.

According to a further feature of the invention, the sections constituting the trellis or lattice are conjugated with removable elements permitting the securing of the trellis or lattice on a support.

According to a further feature of the invention, the profiles or sections constituting the trellis or lattice are conjugated with removable connecting elements the purpose of which it is to cover the ends of two sections between which there is provided a space permitting any expansion and/or contraction of the said sections which may result from a change in temperature.

According to a further feature of the invention, the elements for framing the trellises or lattices are connected by angled connecting elements permitting the expansion and/or contraction of the said framing elements, depending on the temperature.

The description given hereinbelow, with reference to the accompanying drawings, which are given purely by way of non-limitative example, will enable the invention to be more readily understood.

In the said drawings:

FIG. 1 shows, as an elevation, a trellis or lattice designed to be assembled by self-engagement or by sliding and designed in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 2 is a view, in vertical section, with part broken away, the section being taken along the line II-II of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a view in horizontal section, with part broken away, along the line III-III of FIG. 1',

FIG. 4 is a detail view, showing a fragment of one of the constituent elements of the trellis formed with recesses FIG. 5 shows a variant in the design of a section;

FIG. 6 is a detail view showing a removable element for the securing of the trellis or lattice on'a support;

FIG. 7 is a view in section taken along the line VII- VII of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a plan view showing the removable securing element of FIG. 6 and a removable connecting element;

FIG. 9 shows a further variant in respect of the construction of a section or profile.

The trellis or lattice shown in FIG. 1 is constitute by elements made from polyvinyl chloride or chlorinated polyolefine so shaped as to provide sections 1 and 2 which are U-shaped in cross-section and comprise, on each of their lateral limbs or arms 3 and 4 and in the longitudinal direction, a semispherical relief or boss 5 and 6.

The sections 1 are formed in their lateral arms 3 with recesses or apertures 7 (see FIG. 4) which are equidistant and have the same shape as the sections 1 and 2, so that, after assembly by self-engagement of the sections 1 and 2 there is obtained a chequerwork structure as shown in FIG. 1, the sections 2 being optionally adapted to be displaced by sliding in the apertures 7.

The sections 2 are provided on their outer faces with bosses 8 which limit the sliding of the said sections in the apertures 7, bearing selectively against the inner faces of the lateral arms 3 of the sections 1.

The trellis thus constituted is delimited by a frame constituted by elements 9 and 10 which are also U- profiled in cross-section,, the sections 1 engaging between the lateral arms of the elements 9 (see FIG. 2), whereas the sections 2 engage in apertures 11 (see FIG. 1) having the same shape as the sections 1 and 2 and the apertures 7 and formed in the inner arms 12 of the frame elements 10.

The sections may exhibit, in cross-section, a recessed profile 13 of rectangular or square section (see FIG. 5), so as to impart increased rigidity thereto.

The sections 1 and 2 and 13 are conjugated with removable elements 14 (see FIGS. 6, 7 and 8) exhibiting, in cross-section, a profile of the same shape as the said sections so as to permit the securing of the trellis or lattice on a support; these elements are engaged by sliding on either of the sections, lugs 15 being provided for securing them on the said support.

Removable elements 16 (see FIG. 8) permit the connection of the ends of two sections between which there is provided a space permitting expansion and/or contraction of the said sections, depending on the temperature.

The framing elements 9 and 10, which have a space 17 between them at each angle of the said frame, are connected by removable angle connecting means 18 shown diagrammatically in FIG. 1, to permit expansion and/or contraction of the said elements, depending on the temperature.

FIG. 9 shows a variant wherein each section constituting the trellis or lattice is as the section 13 in FIG.

5, but the said section 13a comprises two semi-spherical bosses or reliefs 19 and 20 disposed parallel, each of the said sections being conjugated with two juxtaposed sections 21 and 22 each of which is formed with a recess or aperture 23 and 24.

It is also possible, in order to increase the rigidity-of the sections constituting the trellis or lattice, to add to each of them a reinforcing timber or metal element engaging before self-engagement within the sections.

In order to produce the trellis or lattice shown in FIG. 2, it sufiices to force-fit the sections 1 on the section 2, the latter engaging in the recesses or apertures 7 formed in the sections 1, and then to engage the ends of the sections 1 between the lateral limbs or arms of the frame elements 9 and the ends of the sections 2 in the recesses or apertures 11 formed in the frame elements 10. Then the angle connections 18 are positioned and, optionally, at various points, there are positioned elements 14, if it is desired to secure the trellis on a support.

It is quite clear that it would be possible to provide modifications as to detail such as fall within the scope of technical equivalence without, thereby, exceeding the scope of the present invention.

What is claimed is:

l. A lattice structure comprising a framework, a first group of elongated sections of U-shaped cross-section having free leg portions, a second group of elongated sections substantially identical to said first elongated sections and extending angularly relative thereto, first means connecting said first group of sections to said second group of sections in said angular relationship to define a latticework configuration, and second means connecting said connected first and second groups of sections to said framework, said first connecting means comprising an elongated outwardly extending bead on the surfaces of said free leg portions of each of said substantially identical first and second sections and slots in each of said sections extending generally transversely to the longitudinal axes of said sections, said slots having an outline conforming to the exterior surfaces, including said bead, of each of said sections, the sections of one of said groups being slidably received in the slots of the sections of the other of said groups.

2. The lattice of claim 1 wherein said slots are equally spaced relative to the length of said sections.

3. The lattice of claim 1 wherein said free leg portions have free ends, and including a longitudinally extending base plate connected to and joining said free ends to define a substantially enclosed polygonal crosssection.

4. The lattice of claim 1 and including expansion connections for said frame elements. 

1. A lattice structure comprising a framework, a first group of elongated sections of U-shaped cross-section having free leg portions, a second group of elongated sections substantially identical to said first elongated sections and extending angularly relative thereto, first means connecting said first group of sections to said second group of sections in said angular relationship to define a latticework configuration, and second means connecting said connected first and second groups of sections to said framework, said first connecting means comprising an elongated outwardly extending bead on the surfaces of said free leg portions of each of said substantially identical first and second sections and slots in each of said sections extending generally transversely to the longitudinal axes of said sections, said slots having an outline conforming to the exterior surfaces, including said bead, of each of said sections, the sections of one of said groups being slidably received in the slots of the sections of the other of said groups.
 2. The lattice of claim 1 wherein said slots are equally spaced relative to the length of said sections.
 3. The lattice of claim 1 wherein said free leg portions have free ends, and including a longitudinally extending base plate connected to and joining said free ends to define a substantially enclosed polygonal cross-section.
 4. The lattice of claim 1 and including expansion connections for said frame elements. 